Transfer mechanism for knitting machines



Oct} 20 Q "1925,;

1.. NQD WlLLlAMS TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR KN'ITTING MACHINES Fi1 ed.Ju1y 12; 1923 s Sheets-Slick 1 Oct. 20, 1 2 1,558,136 L. N D. WILLIAMS TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 12, 1923 v s sheets-shut s 55 INVENTOR- ZouzL-s lKDWiZZz'azzw,

Patented Oct. 20, 1925. V

ITED STATES LOUIS ,N. 1). WILLIAMS, or oconrz, EENNSYLVANIA.

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Application filed July 12, 1923. Serial No. 651,048.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LoUIs N. D. WILLIAMS, a citizen. of the United States, residing at ()gontz, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transfer Mechanism for Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to knitting machines, more particularly to mechanism useful in connection with such. machines in transferring fabrics to and from them as is done for example, in the manufacture of hosiery and the like. In the practice of this art with circular knitting. machines, after a ribbed top is knit, it is laced on a suitable transfer ring having qullls upon which the stitches or loops of the. terminal course of the fabric are individually impaled. In order to ensure perfect transfer, that is to say, without dropping of stitches or loops, it is prerequisite that the quills of the trans- 'fer ring be accurately aligned and registered with the needles before the two are brought into actual contact or engagement for transviews in' sectional elevation, the

showing how the transfer ringis shifted fer of said stitches or loops.

My invention is rprimarily directed to provision ofmechanism capable of effecting the operation of'transfer automatically, and this desideratum I attain by use of a carrier adapted to superpose the transfer ring upon the needle cylinder 'of the machine, and capable, incidentally to its actuation, 5 of needle cylinder of the machineso as to bring the needles of the same into alignment and registry with the quills of the transfer ring before the latter are brought into engagementwith said needles.

Other objects together with their-attendant advan ages willbecome readily apparent from the detailed description which follows of atypical embodiment of my invention; while its scope, in so far as comes within my presentknowle'dge, will be as readily apparent from the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. I is an illustration partly in elevation and partly in section showing the knitting head of a circular knitting machine and the manner in which the transfer mechanism of my inventlon is.

used in connection therewith. I

Fig. II is a View similar to Fig. Ishowto its inner position with said ring poised over the needle cylinder in readiness for transfer of the fabric to the needles.

Fig. III is a sectional view taken as in- Fig. VI is a detail fragmentary plan 70.

sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows VIVI in Fig. I, showing more particularly the means whereby the needle cylinder is progressed to bring its needles into registry and alignment with the quills of the transfer ring. I

Fig. VII is a view identical to Fig. VI, but showing the parts in a different position.

Fig. VIII is a detail, sectional view show- .ing the cam which actuates the pawling arm whereby the needle cylinder is progressed; and

Figs. IX and X are fragmentary detail former to bring its points orquills into direct engagement with the needles of the knitting machine, and the latter showing themanner in which the stripper is subsequently pro- Referring first to Figs. I, II, and III the prehensively indicated by the numeral 1, is

shown as being of standard construction andamounted for rotation on the bed plate 2. Rotation of the cylinder 1 is effected through the medium of a bevel gear 3 7 formed upon a horizontal circumferential fiange 4 extending about its base, and arof knittingneedles which are indicated by the numeral 5 in the several figures.

As a means for pro -1y Positioning transfer-ring, such as indicated at 6, re a tive to-the needlesf5 of the machine, I employ a carrier injthe form of an arm 7 mounted to 'swin'gabout a horizontal fuling the carrier for the transferring swung crum axis 8 that issupported in the top 1 parts directly associated with said 65 JBCtBd to advance the fabric stitches or loops 90 from the quills to the needles. effecting slight rotative progression of the needle cylinder '0f-the knitting machine com-, J

of a bracket post 9 bolted or otherwise secured to the top of the bed plate 2.

Pausing, at this juncture, to study the construction of the transfer ring it will be observed from Figs. II and III that the same comprises a main annular shell 10 having at one end an enlarged external circumferential protuberance or head 11 wherefrom project an annular series of quills 12 designed to temporarily hold the individual loops or stitches S of the fabric F which is to be transferred. Independently shiftable within the shell 10 of the transfer ring 6 is a sleeve 13 in one end of which are appropriately anchored a series of strippers let with lateral projections 15 that extend radially outward through the intervals between the quills 12. Move ment of the sleeve 13 is limited by one or more studs 16 which engage in longitudinal slots 17 of the shell -10, see Fig. III. In order that the shell 10 and the sleeve 13 may be separately and selectively shifted relative to the carrier as hereinafter explained, I provide them respectively with diametrical actuating bars 18 and 19 which normally occupy positions of close proximityand parallelism, in a common plane, as shown in Fig. III.

Referring again to the carrier arm 7, it will be observed more particularly from Fig. IV, that the same is of cruciform configuration, and that its swinging motion is limited by a projecting lug 20 which determines the retracted position of said carrier arm when it engages directly with the bracket post 9, and the-forward or advanced position of the carrier arm 7 when said lug comes to rest against a stop in the form of a set screw 21 adjustable in a project-ion 22 of said post, see Fig. V. In the latter position of the carrier, the transfer ring 6 is suspended above the needle cylinder 1. as

- shown in Fig. II. with the quills 12 scparated by a slight interval frontthe needles 5 in readiness to be depressed as hereinafter noted. Secured to the carrier arm 7 with its axis coincident with the intersection of the cross arms thereof, is an annular member 23 which facilitates proper placing of the transfer ring 6 initially upon said carrier arm, and also functions as a holder to prevent axial displacement of the ring 6 when the latter is subsequently shifted in effecting transfer. Appropriate longitudinal slots or cut outs 24 of the holder member 23 afford clearances for accommodation of the diametrical rods 18, 19 of the transfer ring 6 as shown in'Figs. II and III. Theproper circumferential position of the transfer ring 6 is determined by a lug projection 25 adapted to engage a notch in the upper edge of the ring shell 10. see Fig. II.

From the side of the carrier arm 7 opposite to that occupied by the holder 23, projects centrally an integral boss 26, which, as shown, is square in cross-section and centrally bored for guidance ofa plunger 27. This plunger 27 is arranged to be actuated by a hand lever 28 fulcrumed at 29 to 2. lug

on the carrier arm 7, and pivotally connected to the plunger at 30 with provision of limited lostmotion. The function of the plunger 27 is to first move the transfer ring 6 bodily so that its quills 12 are brought into engagement with the needles 5 of the machine, and thereafter in continued movement, to shift the sleeve 13 relative to the shell 10 for the purpose of stripping the fabric loops or stitches S from said quills. These last two operations are effected through aid of a swinging plate 31 pivoted at 32 to the carrier arm 7, said plate normally underlying the plunger 27 and resting on both the diametrical bars 18, 19. Accordingly therefore, as the plunger 27 descends, the plate 31 is of necessity obliged to follow, depressing the transfer ring 6 bodily from the position of Figs. II and III without inducing any change in the position of the sleeve 13 relative to the shell 10 and bringing the quills 12 into engagement with the needles 5 as shown in Fig. I. However, as soon as the plate 31 swings clear of the plunger 27 movement of the shell 10 ceases, and in order to prevent accidental movement of the shell 10 beyond this point during further depression of the plunger 27, I provide hooks 33 free to swing about screw studs 34 let into the ends of the cross-bar of the carrier arm 7, and adapted to engage studs or projections 35 on the shell 10. During the final portion of downward stroke of the plunger 27 after retreat of the plate 31 from the path of the latter, it will be obvious from Figs. II and III that only the bar 19 is engaged so that thesleevc 13 is at this time independently shifted, with relation to the shell 10 with the result that the strippers 14 displace the fabric loops or stitches S from the quills 12 for retainment by the knitting needles 5 as shown in Fig. X. The manner in which the plate 31 cooperates with the bar 19 after clearing the bar 18 is fully disclosed in my copending application for patent, Serial Number 680.063, filed the 12th day of December. 1923: hence further description herein is deemed unnecessary.

During the swinging of the carrier arm 7, the transfer ring 6 is held from dropping off by a dog 36 pivoted at 37 and which is urged by a leaf spring 38 to engage an aperture 39 in the shell 10 of said ring. As the carrier arm Tapproaches its full retracted position after consummation of a transfer the dog 36 is withdrawn from the transfer ring by a lever -10 fulcrumed to the carrier at 41 and influenced by a fixed cam projection 12 on the boss 4a of the bracket 9 whichsupports the fulcrum axis. It is also to be noted that durin this motion of the carrier arm 7 the'hoo .33 are influenced by gravity and recede' automatically fmmthe pins 35 so that the transfer ring 6*canbe readily removed and replaced by another, stops 44 being provided to limit the movement of said hooks; .The function i of temporarily supporting the transfer ring the knob v47 of the hand lever 28.

6 against displacement when-the carrier arm 7 is in retracted positiorn is relegated to a pair of'p'ins 415'projecting from lateral extensions 46 of saldcarr-ier arm and circumferentially engaging the shell of'the ringas 1 ring 6-under urgenceof the'spi'ing 38 and lock said ring to the carrier 7, thehooks 33 in their turn gradually assuming active positions beneath the pins 35 before said carrier has reached the end'of its full swing inwardly, as shown in Fig. II. .The transfer ring 6 is then ready to be depressed as already understood in elfecting the transfer 'of the fabric stitchesfrom the quills 12 to the needles 5.; Before the latter can be accomplished however, it is requisite that the locking dog 36 be withdrawn. To this end a lateral projection 18 of the hand lever 28 engages the beveled outer end 49 of the locking dog 36 to withdraw the'latter from the aperture 39 in the shell 10 of the transfer ring 6 before the plunger 27 has been depressed to the extent of'engaging the swinging plate 31.

If it should be desired that the transfer ring 6 be withdrawn with the carrier 7 after consummation of a transfer, a hook 50 (see Figs. II and III) maybe pivotally. hung to the inner end of the plunger 27 so as to engage beneath the rods 18, 19. fIhis hook 50 is purposely over-weighted on one side as will be apparent f-ron'i the illustrations, so as to automatically fall away from the rods 18, 1!) to the position shown in Fig. IV while the carrier 7 is being retracted thereby permitting mounting and removal of the trans-- fer ring 6 without interference. Retraction of the carrier 7 is, as will be obvious, attended by shiftings of transfer ring parts 1n the order, the reverse of that previously described, these actions being prompted by the hand lever 28 which must first be raised u n-' til the transfer ring 6 is fully restored to its original position on the carrier" 7 and brought into engagement with an overhang 51 of the boss 26 before said carrier will respond to swinging movement. I

In order that the transfer of the fabric may be accomplished with absolute surety, i. e.. without dropping of the stitches or loops S, I provide means designed to bring about relative lateral shifting of the needle cylinder 1 and the transfer ring 6 so'that the needles 5 and the quills 12 of said ring are brought into accurate alignment and registry before these parts are actually made to engage one with the other. The means whereby this is accomplished include a pawling arm 55 mounted to oscillate about a vertical axis 56 supported jointly by a lug 57 of the bracket post 9 and the base 58 of said bracket. Guided for vertieal-recipro-- cation in the outer end of the pawl arm 55 is a detent finger 59 whose lower end is beveled or chamfered as at 60, and thereby given the form of a pawl to cooperate with ratchet teeth 61 cut or otherwise provided in the top face of the horizontal ciroumfen ential flange 4 of the needle cylinder 1. The upper end of the detent finger 59-is slotted as shown at 62 in Fig. IV, to engage the end of a lever 63 pivoted to a lug 64 of the arm 55 and having its inner end engaged by a thrust pin 65 (Fig. V) which is guided to reciprocate in an axial cavity 66 of the fulcrum rod 56 of the arm 55 aforesaid. A

leaf spring 67 bearing upon the top of the; detent finger-59 tends to urge the latter,

downwardly into engagement with the ratchet teeth 61 of the needle cylinder 1 and at thesame time maintains the thrust pin 65 in engagement with a cam surface 68 out into or otherwise formed in the hub boss 70 of the carrier 7.

tion of the thrust pin 65 thereby allowing The configuration of the cam surface 68 is such as to permit retracthespring 67 to project the finger 59-into engagement with the ratchet teeth 61-as the carrier 7 is moved forward to place the transfer ring 6 over the needle cylinderl.

When the carrier 7 is retracted the operation is reversed, that is to say, the cam 68 then functions to depress the thrust rod 65 and to effect through the lever 63, withdrawal of the detent finger 59 from the province of the ratchet teeth 61. actuation of the detent finger 59, the pawl- Concurrently with the,

ing arm 55 is oscillated as a result of th co-operation of a lateral arm 71 thereof with a second cam surface 72 on the hub 7 0 of the carrier'i', contact of said arm with the cam 72 being at all times maintained by a contractile spring 7 3, see Figs. VI and VII, By virtue of the provisions just described,

the needle cylinder 1, and the arm 55 at.

the same time swung to effect rotative proin the course of the inward movement of the i needles 5 into re istry and alignment with the quills 12 of the ring in'readiness for transfer.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

1. The combination in a knitting machine having a complement of needles, of a movable carrier for positioning a transfer device in co-operative relation tothe needles; and means operating incidentally to the actuation of the carrier for effecting slightrotative progression of the needles to ensure accurate alignment and registry of said needles with the quills of the transfer device.

2. The combination in a knitting machine having a complement of needles, ,of a movable carrier for positioning a transfer device in co-operative relation to the needles; and means operating incidentally to the: actuation of the carrier for relatively shifting the needles and the transfer device laterally to bring said needles and the quills of the transfer device into accurate alignment and registry.

3. The combination in a knitting machine with a complement of needles, ofa movable carrier for positioning a transfer ring in cooperative relation to the needles ;#and means deriving motion from the carrier for incidentally shifting the needles and the transfer device relatively to bring said needles and the quills of the transfer device into accurate alignment and registry.

4. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a carrier for positioning a transfer ring in co-operative relation to the needles; and means operating incidentally to the actuation of the carrier for efiecting slight rotative progression of the needles to ensure accurate alignment and registry of said needles with the quills of the transfer ring.

5. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a carrier for positioning a transfer ring in co-operative relation to the needles; and means operating incidentally to the actuation of the carrier, for rotating the needle cylinder and the transfer ring relatively to bring the needles and the quills of the ring into accurate alignment and registry. Y

(S. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a carrier swingable about a horizontal axis to superpose a transfer ring upon the needle cylinder of the machine, and means operating incidentally to the actuation of the carrier for rotating the needle cylinder and the transfer ring relatively to bring the needles and the quills of the ring into accurate alignment and registry.

7. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a carrier for superposing a transfer ring upon the needle cylinder of the machine; and means operating incidentally to the movement of the carrier for rotating the needle cylinder to bring its needles into accurate alignment and registry With the quills of the transfer ring.

8. The combination in a circular knitting machine of -a carrier for superposing a transfer ring upon the needle cylinder of the machine, and pawling means operating incidentally to the movement of the carrier for rotatively shifting the needle cylinder to bring the needles into accurate registry and alignment with the quills of the transfer ring.

9. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a carrier sivingable about a fulcrum axis to super-pose a transfer ring upon the needle cylinder of the machine, a pawling arm adapted to cooperate with ratchet teeth on the needle cylinder, and a cam movable about the axis of the carrier as the same is swung, influencing the pawling arm to rotatively shift the needle cylinder for the purpose of bringing the needles in accurate alignment and registry with the quills of the transfer ring.

10. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a swingable carrier for super-posing a transfer ring upon the needle cylinder of the machine, a pawling arm, a detent finger slidably mounted in said arm and adapted to cooperate with ratchet teeth on the needle cylinder, means operating incidentally to the forward movement of the carrier for actuating the pawling arm and at the same time projecting the finger of the latter to engage the ratchet teeth to 1'0- tatively shift the needle cylinder for the purpose of bringing theneedles into accurate alignment and registry with the quills of the transfer ring, and means for withdrawing the detent finger aforesaid from engagement with the ratchet teeth When the carrier is retracted.

11. The combination in a circular kuitting machine of a' sivingable carrier for su perposing atransfer ring upon the needle cylinder of the machine, an oscillating pa '1- ing arm receiving motion from the carrier and adapted to cooperate with ratchet teeth on the needle cylinder, and means controlling the pawling arm so as to be effective only during its forward movement in relatively progressing the needle cylinder to bring the needles into accurate alignment and registry with the quills of the transfer device.

12. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a sivingable carrier for s uperposing a transfer ring upon the needle cylinder of the machine. a pawling arm, means on the carrier for actuating the pau'ling arm, a detent finger slidable in the end of the pawling arm. a spring tending to urge the detentlinger into engagement with ratchet teeth on the needle cylin a lever pivoted on the carrierand c'o-ordinated with the detentfinger, a thrust pin shiftable in an axial cavity'of thefu'lcrum of the pawling arm, and a cam on the carspring and thereby proiected, and the pawlmg arm at the same time actuated for .the purpose of rotatively shifting the needle cylinder to bring the needles into accurate alignment and registry with the p'oint-sor quills of the transfer ring; while, when the carrier is retracted, the detentfinger is antomatically Wltll(ll2l\"'1 from the ratchet teeth through the action of the cam afore said.

13. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a swingable carrier for moving a transfer ring from an inverted retracted position to a position of suspension over the needle cylinder of the machine, and hooks pivotally hung to the carrier adapted, as the carrier is swung to actit e position to automatically engage stud projections on the transfer ring to retain the latter on the carrier, and when said carrier is swung to retracted position to automatically fall away from the studs thereby to permit removal of the transfer ring 14. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a swingable carrier for moving a transfer ring from an inverted retracted position to a position of suspen: sion over the needle cylinder of the machine, means for moving the transfer ring relative to" the carrier-to engage its stitch points or quills with the knitting needles for stitch transfer, and hooks adapted to engage stud projections on the ring to limit such movement of the latter, said hooks be ing pivotally hun to the carrier so as to automatically rece e from the studs as said carrieris moved to' retracted position.

15. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a swingable carrier for moving-a transferring from an inverted retracted position to a position of suspension over the needle cylinder ofv the machine, a dog for automatically locking the transfer ring to the carrier as the latter is swung to transfor position, a hand lever for moving the transfer-ring relative to the carrier to bring its points or. 'qujlls into engagement with the needles for stitch transfer, and means on the hand lever for tripping the dog to release the transfer ring pre aratory to displacement of the ring as a oresaid.

16. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a swingable carrier for moving a transfer ring from an inverted retracted position to a position of suspension over the needle cylinder of the machine, a spring-pressed dog pivoted to the carrier for automatically locking the trans fer ring to the'carrier as the latter is swung to transfer position, 'a lever fulcrumed on the carrier and engaging the locking dog, and a fixed cam influential upon the lever to withdraw said dog. from the rin at the approach of the carrier to the limit of its retractive movement.

In'testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 10th day of J uly 1923.

LOUI$ N. D. WILLIAMS. 

